Tim Tingle


Tim Tingle is a member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma an author and storyteller of twenty books.

Early life

Tingle was raised on the Gulf Coast outside of Houston, Texas. He is an Oklahoma Choctaw. His great-great-grandfather, John Carnes, walked the Trail of Tears in 1835, and his paternal grandmother attended Native American boarding schools in the early 1900s. In order to preserve the legacy of the Choctaw culture, Tim's family shared stories of their heritage and the struggles that Native Americans face.

Education

Tingle received a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Texas, and he received his master's degree in English Literature from the University of Oklahoma in 2003.

Career

Tingle is a featured storyteller at festivals across the nation, after getting his start telling stories when he visited the school his son attended. He frequently performs at the Texas Storytelling Festival, most recently in March, 2018. In 2002, he was featured at the National Storytelling Festival. In June 2011, Tim spoke at the Library of Congress. In 2014, Tim was featured author and speaker at the National Book Festival in Washington, D.C. Tingle has also travelled to Germany to complete over ten speaking tours on behalf of the US Department of Defense, teaching children and military personnel about his experience as a Choctaw Native American. Tingle was a speaker at the Native American wing of the Smithsonian Institution in 2006 and 2007.
Tingle's first book, Walking the Choctaw Road, was recognized by Storytelling World Magazine as the Best Anthology of 2003. He has won awards for many of his other books for youth. Flying Lessons, the anthology of stories edited by Ellen Oh for the We Need Diverse Books movement includes a piece by Tingle.

Selected works

Anthologies and short stories

Walking the Choctaw Road Texas Ghost Stories Spooky Texas Tales Spirits Dark and Light: Supernatural Tales from the Five Civilized Tribes More Spooky Texas Tales
  • ''Flying Lessons and Other Stories''

Standalone stories

Crossing Bok Chitto: A Choctaw Tale of Friendship and Freedom Saltypie When Turtle Grew Feathers House of Purple Cedar How I Became a Ghost When a Ghost Talks, Listen
  • ''Stone River Crossing''

Blackgoat series

Danny Blackgoat, Navajo Prisoner

No Name series

No Name No More No Name A Name Earned Trust Your Name
  • ''Name Your Mountain''

Honors and awards